Incoming call transfer terminal

Abstract

An incoming call transfer terminal for transferring to a third-party terminal a call-setting message coming from a calling terminal. The incoming call transfer terminal receives the call-setting message over a first communication channel from the calling terminal. Given the message, the incoming call transfer terminal generates a new call-setting message destined to the third-party terminal by keeping intact those parts of the original message which are needed to establish a through communication channel from the calling terminal to the third-party terminal; by also preserving such information unique to the calling terminal as a calling sub-address and a called sub-address to be transmitted unchanged to the third-party terminal; and by rewriting other parts of the original message to indicate that the call is being transferred from the incoming call transfer terminal. The calling number of the calling terminal is transferred as carried on the calling sub-address, called sub-address or user-user information. The call-setting message thus generated is sent automatically to the third-party terminal over a second communication channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An incoming call transfer terminal comprising: receiving means for receiving a first call-setting message transmitted from a calling terminal over a first communication channel;   call-setting message generating means for generating a second call-setting message by copying a first part of the first call-setting message which needs to be transferred from said calling terminal to a third party terminal and by rewriting a second part of said first call-setting message which needs to be communicated to said third-party terminal; and   transmitting means for calling said third-party terminal over a second communication channel to transmit said second call-setting message generated by said call-setting message generating means to said third-party terminal.   
     
     
       2. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first part of said first call-setting message includes said second part which is needed to establish a through communication channel from said calling terminal to said third-party terminal as well as said first part which is to be transferred unchanged from said calling terminal to said third-party terminal. 
     
     
       3. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 2, wherein said second part of said received first call-setting message which is needed to establish a through communication channel from said calling terminal to said third-party terminal includes the information transmission capability, the type of communicating terminals, and channels to be used; and said first part which is to be transferred unchanged from said calling terminal to said third party terminal includes the information specific to a calling party at said calling terminal including a calling sub-address and a called sub-address. 
     
     
       4. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 1, wherein said call-setting message generating means generates said second call-setting message by copying said first part of the first call-setting message to a predetermined second call-setting message memory location. 
     
     
       5. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 1, wherein said call-setting message generating means comprises: extracting means for extracting from said first call-setting message a subscriber number of a calling party at said calling terminal; and   copying means for copying said subscriber number to a calling sub-address of said second call-setting message.   
     
     
       6. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 5, wherein said copying means copies said calling number to said calling sub-address in a predefined format. 
     
     
       7. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 5, wherein said copying means copies said calling number to said calling sub-address in user specific format. 
     
     
       8. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 1, wherein said call-setting message generating means comprises: extracting means for extracting from said first call-setting message a calling number of a calling party; and   copying means for copying said calling number to a called sub-address of said second call-setting message.   
     
     
       9. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 8, wherein said copying means copies said calling number to said called sub-address in a predefined format. 
     
     
       10. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 8, wherein said copying means copies said calling number to said called sub-address in user specific format. 
     
     
       11. An incoming call transfer terminal according to claim 1, wherein said call-setting message generating means comprises: extracting means for extracting from said first call-setting message a subscriber number of a calling party at said calling terminal; and copying means for copying said subscriber number as user-user information of the second call-setting message.   
     
     
       12. A method for transferring a call from an incoming call transfer terminal to a third-party terminal comprising the steps of: a) receiving a first call-setting message at an incoming call transfer terminal from a calling terminal, said first call-setting message having a calling number;   b) detecting the calling number in said first call-setting message at the incoming call transfer terminal;   c) placing the detected calling number in a select portion of a third-party call-setting message;   d) transmitting the third-party call-setting message to the third-party;   e) detecting the calling number from the calling terminal at the third-party terminal; and   f) connecting the third-party with the calling terminal.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein the select portion of the third-party call-setting message is a calling sub-address. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12, wherein the select portion of the third-party call-setting message is a called sub-address. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 12, wherein the select portion of the third-party call-setting message is a user-user information location.